The music world was rocked today when it was revealed that Irish Cranberries star Dolores O'Riordan has passed away aged 46.

The Limerick mum-of-three died while on a recording trip to London, with a statement by the band - who have sold 40 million records with hits including Zombie and Linger - confirming: "Irish and international singer Dolores O’Riordan has died suddenly in London today.

"She was 46 years old.

"The lead singer with the Irish band The Cranberries, was in London for a short recording session.

"No further details are available at this time. Family members are devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."

The publicist's statement did not give a cause of death.

And family friend Canon Liam McNamara expanded on the statement, saying he was 'disappointed' to hear she 'has left us'.

"My heart goes out to the family," he said of the singer - who suffered from depression and bipolar disorder.

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"Dolores was their pride and joy. We all loved her very, very much," he continued.

"She got on well all the way through her life. I was very disappointed to hear today that she has left us so early in life.

"Her family did so much for her and supported her all the way through."

In recent years her music has been overshadowed by her troubled personal life.

In 2014 she was pleaded guilty to headbutting and spitting on a police officer as she was arrested for an alleged air rage incident.

The court heard bi-polar sufferer O’Riordan was suffering hypomania, sleep deprivation and paranoia at the time of the incident

In 2014 she told the Belfast Telegraph she suffered from a “terrible self-loathing” after being abused as a child, which led to anorexia.

In the interview, she admitted that she “tried to overdose” the previous year.

She said: “It manifested itself in my behaviour and the pathologies I began to develop in my early adult life, such as my eating disorder, depression and eventually the breakdowns.”

Of her suicide attempt, she added: “I tried to overdose last year...I suppose I am meant to stay here for the kids.”

The singer also spoke of her battle with the booze.

“I am pretty good but sometimes I hit the bottle,” she added. “Everything is way worse the next morning. I chain smoke when I drink. I have a bad day when I have bad memories and I can’t control them and I hit the bottle. I kind of binge drink. That is kind of my biggest flaw at the moment.”

In another interview she revealed how she couldn’t have sleeping tablets around “because if I have a few drinks I’ll take them”.

She added: “On tour, it was just so easy to say: ‘I can’t sleep, I’ve had a couple of drinks, maybe I’ll take one.’ Then you take another. Then you don’t wake up. That can happen. I am careful now.”

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Last year the mother-of-three was forced to cancel a string of Cranberries gigs due to a bad back.

"Thanks for the many good wishes to Dolores posted on our social pages since the announcement of the cancellation of all our Summer shows up to mid August due to her ongoing back problem," the band wrote in a statement on Facebook.

"There have been some comments suggesting that Dolores could perform if she sat while singing. Unfortunately it is not as simple as that," it continued.

"Dolores' back problem is in the mid to upper area of her spine and the breathing and diaphragmatic movements associated with singing put pressure on the muscles and nerves in that area and exacerbate the pain.

"Sitting does not give any relief and at times in her case it can actually worsen the pain. Please be assured that we would not have cancelled these shows if there was any way that Dolores could perform them.

(Image: DolORiordan/Twitter)

"We are extremely disappointed that we have had to do so and again sincerely apologise to all affected and hope to get back to see you all at some time hopefully in the not too distant future when Dolores has recovered."

The star shared her final tweet on January 3, uploading a shot of herself and her cat with the caption, "Bye bye Gio. We're off to Ireland."

However, in December she told fans she was back on the road, revealing she was "feeling good" after playing her first gig in months.

"Hi All, Dolores here. Feeling good! I did my first bit of gigging in months at the weekend, performed a few songs at the Billboard annual staff holiday party in New York with the house band. Really enjoyed it! Happy Christmas to all our fans!! " she wrote on December 20.

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She previously opened up about her battle with depression, revealing she struggled after her beloved dad Terence died in 2011 after a long battle with cancer.

“There have been times when I’ve struggled. The death of my father and mother-in-law was very hard. Looking back, I think depression, whatever the cause, is one of the worst things to go through," she told the Irish News.

"Then again, I’ve also had a lot of joy in my life, especially with my children. You get ups as well as downs. Sure isn’t that what life’s all about?”

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Meanwhile, she revealed how the happiest moments of her life had been those spent with children Taylor, Molly and Dakota.

“The best time in my life was the years spent at home with my family. I love being a mum. My kids don’t see me as a famous person, or have any kind of expectation; I’m just their mum," she said.

She married band manager Don Burton in 1994, but they divorced after 20 years in 2014 - the same year she was arrested for allegedly assaulting an air hostess .

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Tributes for the star have flooded in for the showbiz world, with TV host James Corden leading the way.

He tweeted: "I once met Delores O’Riordan when I was 15. She was kind and lovely, I got her autograph on my train ticket and it made my day. She had the most amazing voice and presence. So sorry to hear that she’s passed away today x

Josh Groban also voiced his devastation, posting, "Nooooo!! Have always adored her songs and voice."